NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is calling the proposed Music City Center a "stimulus" for the city and its ailing construction industry.
The mayor said Wednesday he believes the project could recover about half of the 5,200-area jobs lost in the construction industry during the past year.
"We are down about 12% in terms of construction jobs and building the convention center adds back about half those jobs once that process begins and while its being built," he said prior to a speech before a local trade association of builders and contractors.
During the past year, many projects, especially home building, have stopped mid-construction when the banks slowed lending to developers.
"It was tough last year, I think its going to be tough next year," said Dan Brodbeck, who heads American Constructors.
Barry Oakley owns a concrete company and used to have about 100 workers. He now has about 30.
Both builders, however, are relatively optimistic because they see signs of a turnaround.
Aside from the convention center proposal, Brodbent said designers and engineers are getting more job requests and when their business picks up, so eventually does construction.
Dan Deal's family owns an excavating company and said he's beginning to see things pick up.
"I got a lot of jobs to bid on now, it's more than a year ago, more than six months ago," he said prior to listening to the mayor.
The nearly $1 billion convention center project, which includes at 1,000-room hotel, is expected to bring millions in tourist dollars to the city of Nashville.
Read more about the project at NashvilleMusicCityCenter.com.
Related Stories:
- Oct. 9, 2009: Nashville attracts more convention business
- Sept. 29, 2009: Council questions convention center 'team'
- Sept. 21, 2009: Mayor says Country Music Hall of Fame plans to expand
- Sept. 16, 2009: Mayor gives proposed convention center new price tag
- August 19, 2009: Special meeting called over Convention Center Authority
- August 17, 2009: Auditor will review spending for new convention center
- August 12, 2009: Marriott to run convention center hotel
- June 16, 2009: City selects developer to build Music City Center hotel
- June 2, 2009: Council approves land purchase for Music City Center
- May 19, 2009: Proposed convention center step closer to reality
- April 14, 2009: City leaders say proposed convention center needed now
- March 6, 2009: Greyhound probably won't appeal zoning vote
- March 5, 2009: Zoning board denies proposal to move Greyhound
- Feb. 24, 2009: Businesses voice opposition to Greyhound station relocation
- Feb. 6, 2009: Greyhound looks at Murfreesboro Rd. location
- Feb. 5, 2009: Rocketown will move to accommodate convention center
- Jan. 29, 2009: Plans for new convention center unveiled
- Aug. 15, 2008: Public shares ideas on proposed convention center
